George Norman, market gardener, was fined 10s including costs for an assault on Thomas
Ward of Preston this morning in Hitchin market. (July 1855)

Mr George Wright(farmer) of Preston was charged with an assault upon Thomas Ward(aged 39, of Back Lane , Preston) of Preston on the night of the 5th of November.
Complainant said that about eleven o’clock he went into a lane to look for his donkeys
and found they had strayed into Mr Wright’s fields and went in to fetch them out.
Whilst in the field, Mr Wright came up to him and asked him what he was doing there.
he said to fetch out his donkeys that had got through a gap in the hedge. Mr Wright
said he would take the law into his own hands and struck him in the face with his
fists and said he would thrash him if he did not take himself off. Mr Wright admitted
having struck the complainant, but said that when he went up to him to tell him that
neither he nor his donkeys had any right on his land, some altercation took place
when Ward kicked him on the leg. Fined 5s and costs. (September 1856)

ASSAULT. Daniel Groom(aged 45, a labourer from Church End, St Pauls Walden) was
brought up in custody charged with committing an assault on Mr John Cook at Hill
End in May last. The prisoner had just come out of gaol, where he had been imprisoned
under a conviction for night poaching. Committed for six weeks. (December 1859)

ASSAULT. John Sharp, (labourer) of Preston, whose case was adjourned from last week,
was accused of assaulting James Kirkby Complainant stated that on the evening of
the 27th of August, he met the defendant who worked for his father, and asked him
why he had not been to his work that day. the defendant then struck him with a stick
and struck the horse that he was on two or three severe blows. Complainant then rode
away, when Sharp threw stones at him. Ordered to pay 10s and the costs. (September
1863)

John Sharp, labourer of Preston, charged by J Weeks Esq. of Preston with threatening
to assault him. Dismissed. (October 1870)

George Wright(aged 61), farmer of Preston, charged with assaulting one of his labouring
boys, Samuel Reeves(aged 11, a ploughboy living in a cottage near Preston Hill Farm),
who appeared in court with his arm very much injured. Fined £3 including costs. (December
1870)

(See Alleged Assault at Kings Walden case below)

ASSAULTING THE POLICE. Henry Chalkley (aged 29, a brick maker of Breachwood Green,
Kings Walden) and Charles Chamberswere charged with assaulting the police while
in the execution of their duty. Police-constable Gibbs said on the 30th ult. he and
Pc Farr attended the fair at Preston. About half-past ten at night a man was given
in their custody at the Red Lion public-house on a charge of felony and as they were
escorting him through the village, the two defendants came up and said they should
not take the man into custody. The two men then seized hold of the prisoner and tried
to rescue him and subsequently he was kicked by one of the defendants and hurt very
much. They succeeded in getting the prisoner as far as the Chequers public house
and there a cart was lent them to convey the prisoner to the station-house. Witness
and Farr tried to put the prisoner into the vehicle and all the time they did so,
the defendants interfered and tried to prevent them doing their duty. Chalkley was
fined 40s and 12s 6d costs or two months imprisonment and Chambers, 20s, including
costs, or 14 days imprisonment. (November 1872)

ALLEGED ASSAULT. George Wright, farmer , was summoned for having on the 13 ult.
assaulted a young woman,Mary Slater.The defendant was summoned to appear before the
Bench at their last meeting, but had failed to do so. Mr Shepherd appeared for the
accused. He said the defendant was exceedingly sorry that anything should have occurred
to call for the interference of the Court, but since the occurrence a satisfactory
arrangement had been come to between himself and the complainant’s father and the
young woman did not now wish to press the charge. The magistrates, under these circumstances,
allowed the case to be dismissed. (August 1873)

ASSAULT. William Monrow, gardener to Mr Weeks of Temple Dinsley, was charged with
assaulting William Sharp (aged 16, living in Preston in 1871) on 21st of November.
Mr Harper appeared to prosecute.

Wm Sharp deposed: I have worked for Mr Weeks at Temple Dinsley about four years and
a half. On Friday last I was at leaf cart about half past three. Geo Palmer(aged
14, living in Preston in 1871) was with me. The defendant came to us and said, ”Pull
off your jacket.” I told him it was too cold, when he said if I did not pull my jacket
off, he would and then took hold of my throat and said, “ You -------, I’ll choke
you.” the buttons on my shirt were broken off and my collar was smothered with blood
by the defendant scratching me. He then threw me on the ground and swore he would
kill me; he struck me while down and tore my trousers down the side. The cowman came
and pulled him off me and he told me and Palmer to go to the stable and he would
pay us.

Defendant said he spoke to Sharp about his work and told him if he did not do his
work better, he would have to leave. He also told the boys about having their coats
on and they refused to take them off. He told them if they did not obey they would
have to leave and then Sharp threw down his rake and said, “Now you ------------,
give us our money.”

Fined £1 including costs (November 1873)

ASSAULT AT PRESTON. Martha Peters(aged 20 of Back Lane, Preston) of Preston was
charged with assaulting George Boston(aged 15 of Back Lane, Preston) of Preston
but as the defendant was unable to appear, the case was adjourned for six weeks.
(September 1877)

SERIOUS CHARGE. At the Hitchin Petty Sessions on Tuesday, Jesse Bryce, a young man
of about twenty years of age was charged on remand with feloniously assaulting Elizabeth
Roberts, a middle-aged woman, on the road between Gosmore and Preston on the night
of April 19th. Several witnesses having been examined, including the prosecutrix,
who was too ill to attend. The magistrates sent the defendant for trial at the Assizes.
Mr Nash, solicitor who defended, asked for bail and fixed it as follows: the accused
in £100 and two sureties in £50 each with notice to the police. (May 1889)

Henry Jeeves of Preston (woodman of Back Lane b 1839c)was charged with assaulting
Frank Stanford of Hitchin on the 18 July. Mr Horace Baker, solicitor, appeared for
the defendant. Stanford was also charged with assaulting Jeeves at the same time
and place. The Bench dismissed the charge against Stanford and fined Jeeves 16s 6d
including costs or seven days imprisonment. (Aug 1881)

ASSAULT. Thomas Ward(b 1816)was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Sturgess(b 1827)
of Preston. It came out in evidence that the fair complainant herself was guilty
of the offence with which she charged the defendant and the case was therefore dismissed,
on payment of costs by her. (May 1845)

Francis Sharpe was charged with assaulting John Buck of Kings Walden. It appeared
from the complainant’s statement that the defendant came to his house in company
with some others on a day when a club feast was held there and called for beer. This
however was refused upon which Sharpe and the others (one of whom was convicted last
week) assaulted the complainant and threatened to demolish his windows. Fined £1
and in default of payment committed for one month. (May 1845)

ASSAULT. Charles Ray (sic) was summoned, charged by Hill with assaulting him on 12
March. From the evidence of the prosecutor it appeared that he was making hurdles
in a wood. Ray came up to him and charged him with taking the bread out of his mouth.
This the prosecutor said he could not help as he had been told to do the job. Ray
then went up to him and struck him with a hurdle sideways. When the prosecutor got
up, Ray then pulled him by his coat and struck him a blow in the eye with his fist.
(The mark was still visible) Ray also said that if he found out that the prosecutor
had asked for the job, he would drop on to him and give him a good thrashing.

The prisoner said that he had gone and sworn at the prosecutor for taking the job
out of his hands. As he was going away, he told Hill what he would do to him if it
was true. Hill retorted, and he went back and struck him in the eye with his fist.

The magistrates said that one man had as much right as another to do a job and therefore
fined Ray £1 and 12s 6d costs which were paid. (March 1860)

Hitchin Petty Sessions, 10 January 1837. John Wade (sic - probably Ward), of Preston
was brought up on a warrant charged with assaulting John Squires at Preston on 7
January. The complainant stated that on the night in question, when he was coming
out of the door of the Chequers at Preston, where his club had been held that evening,
he found Wade waiting for him outside. Wade immediately struck him and a little scuffle
ensued after which the prisoner fetched a large stake and hit the complainant over
the eye with it and made a great wound. He was convicted in the sum of 15s to include
costs and in default was committed to the House of Correction at Hitchin for 21 days.

Daniel Winch was also brought up for assaulting John French at the same place and
on the same evening. The circumstances attending the affair were very similar to
the last case but with considerably more aggravation. He was therefore fined the
full penalty of £5 and committed to the House of Correction for two calendar months.

Assault. Charles Swain was charged with assaulting Joseph Saundersonand John Wilshireat Preston in the parish of Hitchin. It appeared from the statement of the complainants
that they are related to the defendant and met together when some family differences
arose and the assault complained of was committed. (The defendant’s solicitor) endeavoured
to make out that his client was ‘more sinned against than sinning’ but in this he
failed and the defendant was adjudged to pay £2 10s including costs. (9 October 1847)

Henry Jeeves, a labourer, was charged with assaulting Frederick Redrup, a publican
of Preston and also with doing damage to a window to the extent of 5/-. The complainant
said that the defendant’s sister was occasionally in his employment. On the night
of 6 September, a stone was thrown through the window and on the witness opening
the door to see who was outside, the defendant struck him. The defendant said that
his sister, who kept his house, went to the complainant’s house to drink rather than
to work. He admitted breaking the window but denied the assault. For the assault
he was fined £1 and costs and for the damage, 10/- and costs making a total of £2
1s 6d. (16 September 1899)

A charge against Samuel Reeves, dealer of Whitwell, of assaulting William Henry Brown,
another dealer at Preston on Saturday, was dismissed. There had, it seemed, been
a dispute between the parties about money matters. (11 Dec 1897)

ASSAULT AT PRESTON

Frank Brown, of Preston, was summoned for assaulting John Dew at Preston on 30 June.
The complainant, a farmer, gave evidence to the effect that while driving towards
Hitchin, a missile struck him on the back and when he pulled up to ask what it meant,
the defendant threatened to assault him. In cross examination it was established
that the witness was not struck by the defendant and that there had been some ill
feeling between the parties. The defendant was ordered to pay the costs amounting
to 14/6d and was bound over to keep the peace for three months. (11 July 1891)

Frank Brown of Preston was charged with using threats to John Dew, farmer of Preston
and also with obstructing the highway there. Both charges were adjourned to enable
the defendant to call witnesses, the summons only having come to his knowledge late
on Monday night.

Later – The complainant threatened to “do for him” but this was denied by the defendant
who said that Dew had given him a great deal of annoyance for some time past. After
hearing the witnesses on both sides, the Magistrates bound both parties over to keep
the peace for six months. The charge of obstruction, which was brought by Mr Dew,
in his capacity of surveyor of highways, was dismissed the Bench thinking that the
dog-cart which was found on the road was not there long enough to sustain such a
complaint. (23 July 1892)

Petty Sessions, Hitchin. Alfred Brown, farmer of Preston was charged with using threats
to George Hailey, saddler of Hitchin. There had it seemed been some unpleasantness
between the parties before arising out of County Court proceedings set on foot by
Mr Hailey and when they met on the road, the defendant, it was alleged, used the
threats complained of. The Magistrates bound the defendant over in his own recognisances
in the sum of £10 to keep the peace for six months. (11 November 1893)

MASTER and MAN. William Jackson, farmer of Hill End, Hitchin was charged with assaulting
Samuel Peacock, a groom-gardener who was in his employment, on December 21 The complainant
said Mr Jackson found fault with him for not completely plucking two geese and witness
rejoined that he had kept on plucking as long as he could see. With that the defendant
committed the assault, throwing him down and almost strangling him and knocking his
head against the door of a cart shed. Being cross-examined, the witness said he was
quite sober. It was true that he used threats to the defendant but these were conditional
on the defendant interfering with him. Strong language was used by them both. Giving
evidence on his own behalf, the defendant said he paid the defendant his wages and
ordered him off the premises. He did not leave and was thereupon put outside on the
highway. Peacock was not sober at the time. Mr Jackson flatly contradicted the main
part of the complainant’s testimony. After retiring to consider their decision, the
Magistrates dismissed the case on the defendant paying the costs. (5 January 1906)

PETTY SESSIONS. Arthur Jenkins, a labourer, was charged with assaulting his wife
at Preston on March 5th. The complainant who has to walk on crutches because of an
infirmity, said her husband came home the worse for drink and struck her with his
hand on the side of the head. Jenkins said he gave her a slap on the face because
she nagged him. He was bound over in his own recognizances to keep the peace for
six months. (14 March 1908)

PETTY SESSIONS. Albert Smoothy, dairyman of Hitchin was charged with assaulting Reginald
Joseph Brown a lad of 17 living at Preston. The complainant’s evidence was that he
was sitting in the bar parlour of the Gloucester Arms public house with the defendant
and two others after looking at a horse he wished to buy from one of the company.
Smoothy asked to be paid some money witness owed him. Witness promised to pay him
but before he could do so, the defendant hit him a severe blow on the eye. For the
defence it was contended that the blow was a slight one and that provocation had
been given. A fine of £1 with 10/- costs was imposed. (8 April 1905)

James Brown of Kings Walden was charged with an assault upon Joseph Barker who said:
I am a farmer and live at Knebworth. On 28 October, I was at Preston fair and about
noon Brown came up to me and said, “Come along with me!”. I said, “What for?” and
refused to go. He caught hold of the collar of my waistband and tore it off. I told
him to let go but he would not and dragged me along about a pole. He abused me very
much and I struck him on the head twice before he would let me go. Brown had also
summoned Barker. The evidence was very contradictory and the Bench dismissed both
cases. (6 November 1852)

Henry Bradden, (61) keeper of the Chequers public house at Preston, was charged with
committing an assault on George Hammitt of the same place. Case dismissed (10 November
1861)

Charles Swain(34) of Preston in the parish of Hitchin was charged with assaulting
John Swain(34, cousin of Charles), blacksmith of the same place. Case dismissed
with plaintiff paying costs. (17 April 1852)

William James Wright of Preston, farmer (of Preston Hill Farm) was fined 12/- including
costs for an assault upon Thomas Ward (40, of Back Lane), a dealer in marine stores
on the night of 5 November at Preston. Complainant stated that about 11 o’clock he
missed his two donkeys from a lane into which he had turned them and found they had
strayed into one of Mr Wright’s fields and went over the fence through a gap to fetch
them out when Mr Wright came up and asked him what he was doing there. He said, ‘After
my donkeys’ and Mr Wright struck him with his fist on the face. Mr Wright admitted
having struck the complainant but that he first kicked his legs. (18 November 1856)

William Monk of Preston was charged with assaulting Mr James Ford Kirkling (Kirkby?),
farmer of Preston on 3 February. Fine and costs £1: Paid. (19 February 1859)

William Sturgeon (Sturgess ?, father and son at Back Lane 52 and 18),of Preston was
charged with assaulting Julia Rowbottom (26, married to George, of Hill End). Fined
40/- and costs. (19 June 1852)

Benjamin Brown of Preston was charged with committing an assault on William Brown(46 of the Red Lion)

of the same place. Fined £1 including costs. (11 January 1862)

Charles Stevens and William Currell were charged with assaulting a poor man of weak
intellect, Samuel Farr,

at Kings Walden on 25 July. Farr appeared to have been beaten very severely, but
both defendants stated

positively that he threw stones at them before they touched him. Stevens was fined
7/- and Currell, 5/- (12

August 1843)

Charles Wray (my great grandfather) of Kings Walden was charged with committing an
assault on Henry Hill.

The parties were rival hurdle-makers and the assault arose because Hill was employed
by one of Wray’s

masters. Fined £1 1/- and costs (24 March 1860)

John May(59, ag lab) was charged with assaulting Thos Bradden, landlord of the Chequers
at Preston. It

appeared from the evidence that the defendant misbehaved himself in the house and
Bradden very properly

interfered when he was struck by the defendant for so doing. Fined 1/6d and costs
13/6d. (18 September 1847)